One by One

(These are gifts that I recorded during the summer while I took a break from blogging.  I'm listing more than usual in an attempt to get caught up to date!)

1026.  Bumpy truck rides up a mountain

1027.  Mining for quartz crystal

1028.  The deep, earthy red color of jasper

1029.  Arriving home after four plane rides and 15 hours in the airport system

1030.  Friends who helped us pack and move...

1031.  ...and did so with cheerful hearts...

1032.  ...that made the process joyful and fun!

1033.  Our new home

1034.  Discovering that we had already met our neighbors through a mutual acquaintance

1035.  Three different families who warmly welcomed us to the neighborhood

1036.  Potlucks in the park on a warm summer evening

1037.  Visiting our friends in Washington

1038.  My new rice cooker

1039.  That my daughter curled up next to me in bed while I listened to a podcast on Psalm 120

1040.  Moonlit wheat fields

1041.  Learning about the Psalms of Ascent

1042.  Her excitement over decorating her new clubhouse

1043.  Eating dinner on the patio

1044.  Watching the sun set with friends

1045.  Slices of cold, crisp watermelon

1046.  that he packed for camp by himself...

1047.  ...and did a great job!

1048.  Sending care packages

1049.  That the old house went to "pending" status

1050.  Running into friends at the coast...

1051.  ...and being treated to a lovely dinner overlooking the ocean (even if it was fogged in!)

Five Minute Friday: Truth

There is a song called “Words” by Hawk Nelson that plays frequently on the radio right now.  The words in the chorus are:

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

If I had a theme song for my blog, or even my life for that matter, I think this might be it! 

There is a phrase in carpentry called “true up” which means to make something even, symmetrical, or to bring it into alignment.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
He has given us the Spirit of truth, who promises to guide us in all truth (John 16:13)
His word is truth! (John 17:17)

Not only does Jesus set the example, He helps us “true up” to Him through the Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!  What a marvelous gift!  My goal in life is to be aligned with Christ, and my prayer is that my life (words and actions) will point others toward the truth.

For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!  (Psalm 117:2)


            

One By One

Up until I now, I have been counting His gifts and blessings under the title "One Thousand Gifts."  I am continuing to count, and will post a list each Monday under the new title "One by One."  I chose this title based on the chorus of the old hymn "Count Your Blessings."

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

1001.  Sunsets over the Rocky Mountains

1002.  Wild rabbits nibbling grass

1003.  A sunny day at the zoo

1004.  Learning how tea is processed and packaged

1005.  Meadows full of wildflowers

1006.  Gelato

1007.  Playing miniature golf with the kids

1008.  The beautiful photo he was given

1009.  One dozen red roses

1010.  Browsing at the bookstore

1011.  A fun day at Waterworld

1012.  His calming and reassuring voice on the other end of the line

1013.  Safe arrival home after a drama-filled day of travel

1014.  Getting lost in a good book

1015.  The balloon animal my son made for me

1016.  The drone of bumblebees...

1017.  ...in a patch of lavendar

1018.  Singing about His grace

1019.  Keys to the new house

1020.  Thunderheads against a coral sky

1021.  Inchworms

1022.  Colorful crepe myrtle trees

1023.  Meeting a lovely young couple...

1024.  ...and their families...

1025.  ...and being a guest at their wedding

Five Minute Friday: Grace

I love the feeling that grace produces.  Whether it’s the librarian waiving an overdue fee or a dear friend extending grace for something that you said or did that was hurtful, grace produces a response from the heart.  It has nuances of forgiveness, release, relief, peace, joy, love. 

Hebrews 13:9 says that it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace…in other words, grace is food for the heart.  We eat food every day because it is necessary for the overall growth and health of our bodies.  2 Peter 3:18 instructs us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The more we know of the Lord and begin to understand the depths of the riches of His grace, the more spiritual fruit we produce…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Grace creates an environment in the heart where growth can occur, and as we grow in our knowledge of the Lord and experience His grace, we should be extending it to those around us.  Every time we extend grace to someone , we are pointing them to the cross. 

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us.” (Ephesians 1:7-8, NASB)

How different the world would be if we lavished grace on others, the way He has lavished grace on us.


            

Five Minute Friday: Laundry

Ah, Mt. Washmore.  I climb this mountain on a weekly basis! 

I don’t mind doing laundry, as it tells its own unique story of my family, one week at a time, year after year.  I miss the days of onesies, teeny tiny socks, small striped shirts, and footed pajamas…evidence of the two precious gifts God has given to me.  As I washed away spaghetti stains, I was thankful that we had food to eat (still am!).  Grass stains were evidence of outdoor play and fun times as a family.  Soon, pink leotards and white taekwondo pants found their way into the mix.  My children are growing and becoming the people God created them to be.  As I stand and fold, I pray for them and wonder what God has in store for their lives.  I pull my husband's dress shirts and slacks out of the dryer, and am thankful for how hard he works to provide for us.  Over the years, God has brought him back to us from every concert tour, safe and sound.  I never take that for granted.  Every now and then, I’ll pull his pants out and a blue sequin will be stuck to them, and it makes me smile.  My daughter is entering her pre-teen years and currently loves “bling” on her clothes.  I sense a new “chapter” starting…

Yes, laundry tells the story of family…we live and move and tumble through this life…

Together.


            

One Thousand Gifts

Today is a mile marker in the practice of counting His blessings!  Today is the day that I post my thousandth gift.  Life has been busy lately and I am well past one thousand in my journal, but I wanted to separate this gift out and take a moment to reflect on the journey so far.

As I look back through the pages and pages of counting,

I see an interesting mix of the "every day" things of life like 
#77   Windshield wipers 
#114  A reliable car
#159  Clean drinking water
#352  Fresh blackberries
#506  Iced coffee
#919  Blankets tucked in

I see pauses to marvel at His glorious creation
#1  My son's eyes pausing to look up and gaze at the night sky
#111  How she gets distracted by a V of geese when raking the leaves and races across the yard, staring at the sky, arms flapping
#273  The way prairie grass changes color in the sunlight
#399  Fourteen geese in a row, gliding with the current
#602  Watching waves build and crest
#819  Sandpipers scurrying along sea foam

I also see gifts that show His ever-faithful presence on our journey toward eternity
#142  Hearing my father read Luke 2
#151  Hearing her sing praise songs when she's supposed to be brushing her teeth
#228  How hard they work to memorize Scripture
#311  His grace on the hard days
#330  Prayer warriors
#444  Talking about the Lord while we picked (strawberries)
#509  That my son chose Philippians 4:13 as his life verse
#562  Nathan's baptism
#617  That she was a peacemaker on the playground

Somewhere in the mid-900's, I stopped putting the numbers on each line of my journal.  Knowing that I was approaching 1000, I wanted to do everything I could to keep that gift a surprise.  As the days and weeks went by and I continued to count, I wondered...what would it be?  Would it be an "every day" gift?  Would it be one that caught a glimpse of eternity?  To my delight, it ended up being both in one!  So without further delay...

1000.  Standing next to him in worship, harmonizing together

The Lord has blessed me with an amazing husband.  First and foremost, he loves the Lord with all of his heart, soul, mind and strength.  He works so hard to care for our family, and is a wonderful father to our children.  The Lord has blessed his gifting in music, and turned that into a full time ministry that our whole family can be a part of.  I look back over twenty four years of marriage (#987) and am so thankful for how He has knit us together.  I love to stand next to him in church on a weekly basis and sing with him, and I look forward to singing with him throughout eternity, when we praise our Lord and King together!

If you have enjoyed this journey with me, I invite you to stay tuned!  I am still counting, but will change the title of my weekly entries.  His mercies are new every morning, and His blessings are abundant!

One Thousand Gifts

It is amazing to me how quickly time flies.  I can't believe that my last post was near the end of May.  My summer was full of travel and moving into a new home.  Now the school year is in full swing, with a demanding schedule, and I am struggling to find time to write.  Through all of this though, I have continued to count.  I am well past 1000 (!), but have a plan on how I want to present them in this space.  Here are the final gifts leading up to 1000...

987.  Twenty four wonderful years of marriage

988.  His safe return from Arizona

989.  Watching children play "Telephone"...

990.  ...and giggle at the results

991.  The last day of school

992.  How well she recited her lines at the year-end program

993.  R.T. -- proud Marine, awesome principal, passionate man of God

994.  His wise advice to parents that he shared in his retirement speech

995.  The arrival of summer weather

996.  Beautiful dance recital costumes

997.  Tractors rumbling in the orchard

998.  Swinging with her in the park

999.  Listening to her giggle with a friend on Skype